Plug



Oct. 17, 1944. p BYRON 2,360,395

PLUG I Filed Aug. 2, 1941 2 Sheets$heet 1 I if 15 96 19 8g 6 5' 29 14 26 40 #15 2a 6 C ZZ- PAUL E BYRON Patented Oct. 17, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,360,395 PLfJG Paul E. Byron, Longview, Tex.

Application August 2, 1941, Serial No. 405,249

14 Claims.

This invention relates to closures for metallic or the like receptacles and, particularly, to an externally operated device having an element engaging inside the receptacle.

The object of this invention is to provide a closure for leaks or other openings in the wall of a closed container, or a container in which access to the inner side of the wall is not readily available. More specifically, it is intended to provide a plug having a slotted bar pivoted to the inner end thereof and extending longitudinally of the plug so as to be insertable through the opening, and so arranged that, upon rotation of the plug, the bar will swing to a transverse position to engage the inside of the Wall whereby to prevent withdrawal of the plug.

Another object is to provide a gravity operated bar movable step-by-step through a series of positions upon certain rotation of the plug, in the last of which positions the bar may be engaged against the inside of a receptacle wall. Still again, it is intended to provide a bar which, so long as it is engaged against a wall, is positively held against pivfiting from its transverse position, even upon rotation of the plug to which it is pivoted.

Still again, it is an object of this invention to provide a tap insertable either into a pipe or an opening in a receptacle, without necessitating threading or similar fitting into the pipe or receptacle.

Among other objects, it is herein proposed to provide a device easily and economically manuiacturable by any machinist or plumber, the operation of which is readily demonstrable, and, above all, a device which, no matter how urgent the emergency, will always work. These and other objectives will be-apparent from the following specification and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the first embodiment in its first position.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the device as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1, but in its intermediate position.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the device as shown in Fig, 3. a I

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1, but in its final position;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the device-as shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a second embodiment of the invention in its final position.

Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the device shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a third embodimentof the invention in its first position; and

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 9 in its final position.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, wherein the reference numeral 2 denotes the plug, which is an elongated, rodlike member of brass or other suitable material having threads 4 therein. At the rear end of plug 2 are axially-extending, spaced jaws 6 and B with a rearwardly disposed slit l0 therebetween, slit I0 being traversed by a transverse, fixed pivot l2, the ends of pivot l2 being affixed through suitable openings in the jaws as indicated at I3, I3.

The plug 2 is held against withdrawal by an elongated flat bar l4 having sideedges l5, l5, and having inclined slot I6 therein which extends at an angle to the length of the bar. More specifically, slot l6 starts substantially intermediate the ends of bar l4 and extends angularly almost to the beveled end [8 of the bar, end l8 being beveled for reasons hereinafter set forth and terminating in a tip l8a. Throughout its length, slot l6 lies more nearly adjacent side edge 15 than l5 to provide an unbalanced suspension of bar 14, also later described. It will also be seen that the material of bar N forms a substantially L shaped element, the leg of which is comprised of the material between edge I5 and slot IS, the foot of which is formed by the material between edge I8 and the end of slot 16. At the other end, bar [4 is provided with an eyelet [9 through which a wire may be tied when it is desired to use the device for plugging holes in certain receptacles, such as wheat bins or the lik where gravity operation, at least in the first movements of bar M, would be inhibited. Threaded to threads 4 of plug 2 is a nut 20 for engaging washer 22 and gasket 24 against the outer side of a wall 26 of a receptacle when the device is used to plug an opening, such as hole 28. The outer end of plug 2 is knurled for engagement by a wrench, and the device operates as-follows:

Bar 14 is first pulled out straight so as to extend almost longitudinally of the axis of plug 2. It should be noted that, in this first position, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the tip 18a of beveled end l8 of bar I4 is engaged against the inner end of slit l0 which forms an abutment, and that the arrangement of the slits l0 and the slot l6, pivot l2, and tip l8a is such that bar M hangs slightly downwardly, thereby making premature pivoting thereof virtually impossible until plug 2 is rotated.

Upon rotation of plug 2, the unbalanced weight of bar I4 causes it to swing downwardly so as to extend at right angles to the axis of plug 2, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, when plug 2 has been rotated 180 from its initial position.

Upon further rotation of plug 2 substantially to 360, bar It slides downwardly to a position transverse to the axis of plug 2 so as to form a T therewith as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Finally, when bar [4 is in T formation, gasket 24 and washer 25 are pressed against the receptacle by tighting nut 20, thus to prevent any leakage.

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8, wherein, instead of plug 2, a hollow pipe 2A having a bore 3 and spaced concave jaws 6A, 8A is used. Prime numbers are used to denote elements previously described in Figures 1 to 6. On the outer end of pipe 2A, a

tap 5 is threaded for discharging liquids from the receptacle. In other respects, this modification resembles the first embodiment except that facets 30A are provided for wrench engagement, and the beveled end [8' is provided with a shoulder or stop lug Iliad for engaging the circumference of pipe 2A so as to avoid upsetting of the metal surrounding the inner end of bore 3.

If any of the devices shown be used in conjunction with receptacles containing wheat, tar, or other sluggish material, a thread or fine wire All may be tied through eyelet I9 and extended along plug 2 or pipe 2A so that when the inner end of the device has been inserted through the hole, the thread or cord may be pulled to swing bar M to its right angle position, after which bar It will drop into T formation as described before.

The thread or wire arrangement is also useful when the device is used as a plug or mounting for horizontal surfaces where the force of gravity could not be relied upon to operate bar M. In this last instance, pulling on the thread or wire not only swings bar M to its Fig. 3 position, but

also slides bar Hi to its Fig. 5 position.

A third embodiment of the invention is illustrated by Figs. 9 and 10, and wherein, as in the previous figures, the same plug 2" having threads 4", spaced jaws 6 and 8" (jar 8" being not shown) and slit therebetween is utilized, but wherein a different bar arrangement is provided. Particularly, a wedge-shaped bar MB having an inclined wall and a hooked end 50 having divergent edges !8B and IBB" is slidably engaged with a pin l2. It should also be noted that bar MB, together, with its end 59, form an L shaped element analogous to the L shaped elements previously described. When this embodiment is first inserted through hole 28" in wall 26", bar MB extends axially behind plug 2 with edge ISB" engaged against pivot l2" and tip lBbb of inclined end lSB engaged against the inner end of the slot between spaced jaws B" and 8". Upon 180 rotation of plug 2", bar MB swings down to a vertical position corresponding to the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 position of the first embodiment. Finally, upon 360 rotation of plug 2, bar MB slides to its Fig. 10 position wherein it lies wedged between pivot l2" and the inner end of the slot between jaws 6" and 8". Then, as in the previous embodiments, nut 29 may be turned to drive washer 22" and gasket 24" tight against wall 36".

The several embodiments described above not only have great utility as plugs and tap mountings, but also as attachment means for securing other objects to a wall, floor, ceiling, or any other structure where access to the back or inside is difficult.

I claim:

1. In a device of the type described, an element adapted to be inserted in an opening formed in a wall member, said element having a rear end portion, elongated bar means, and sliding pivot means mounting said bar means on said rear end portion comprising a transverse pivot on said portion, abutment means on said portion spaced forwardly of said pivot, said bar means including an L shaped element comprising foot and leg portions, a part of each of said portions being narrower than the distance between said pivot and said abutment means, said foot portion forming the forward end of said bar means in a first position and being engaged between said pivot and said abutment means, said leg element being slidably engaged between said pivot and said abutment means in final position, and means on said element for engaging the front of a wall adjacent said opening.

2. In a device of the type described, an element having a rear end portion adapted to be engaged rearwardly through an opening, said element having a rearwardly disposed slit therein and a pivot extending transversely across said slit, a bar including a longitudinal side edge and an end edge, longitudinally extending surface means spaced from said side edge and forming an elongated longitudinal strip of bar material therebetween, one end of said surface means terminating short of said end edge whereby to form a relatively short, transverse strip of bar material between said one end of said surface means and said end edge, the adjacent portions of said longitudinal and said transverse strips of said bar material being narrower than the distance between said pivot and the inner end of said slit and slidably engaged therebetween, selectively, whereby to allow said ball to be slidirgly pivoted from a position in which it extends rearward of said element to a position in which it extends transversely thereto.

3. The combination claimed in claim 2, and stop means on the end of said transverse strip non-adjacent to said longitudinal strip for engaging said end portion whereby to limit the relative angular pivoting between said bar and said element in one direction.

4. The combination claimed in claim 2, stop means on the end of said transverse strip nonadjacent to said longitudinal strip for engaging said rear end portion whereby to limit the relative angular pivoting between said bar and said element, and stop means comprising said surface means and said longitudinal side edge intermediate the ends of said bar for engaging said rear end portion and said pivot whereby to limit the sliding, in one direction, of said bar between said pivot and the end of said slit.

5. The combination claimed in claim 2, and means on the end of said transverse strip nonadjacent to said longitudinal strip for preventing complete withdrawal of said bar from between said pivot and the end of said slit.

6. In a device of the type described, an element having a rear portion adapted to be engaged rearwardly through an opening, said element having a rearwardly disposed slit and a pivot extending transversely of said slit, and an elongated bar having side and end edges, said bar having an elongated, substantially longitudinal slot slidingly engaging said pivot, said slot being inclined at an angle with respect to said longitudinal side edges, one side edge of said slot being spaced from one side edge of said bar by a distance less than that between said pivot and the inner end of said slit, one end of said slot being spaced from the portion of one of said end edges adjacent said one side edge also by a distance less than that between said pivot and said slit whereby said bar may be slidingly pivoted from a position in which it extends substantially rearwardly from said element to a position in which it extends substantially transversely thereto.

7. The combination claimed in claim 6, the distance between the lowermost end of the end edge adjacent said pivot when said bar is posi tioned to extend substantially rearwardly and said one end of said slot being greater than that between said pivot and at least a portion of the inner end of said slit whereby to prevent pivoting of said bar, in one direction, substantially beyond a rearwardly extending position.

8. The combination claimed in claim 6, the other end of said slot terminating substantially at the mid-point of said bar.

9. In a device of the type described, an element having a rear portion adapted to be engaged rearwardly through an opening and having a rearwardly disposed slit and a pivot extending transversely of said slit, and an elongated bar having adjacent side and end edges, said bar having an elongated slot slidably engaging said pivt, one end of said slot being spaced from a .portion of said end edge adjacent one of said side edges by a distance less than that between said pivot and the forward end of said slit'whereby said bar may be extended rearwardly from said element for insertion through said opening, the distance between the end of said slot and a portion of said end edge not adjacent said side edge being greater than that between said pivot and the forward end of said slit whereby to prevent pivoting of said bar, in one direction, substantially beyond a rearwardly extending position,

the side'of said slot adjacent said side edge of said bar being spaced therefrom by a distance less than that between said pivot and the forward end of said slit, said sl-ot being inclined away from said side edge and ter 'nating substantially at the midpoint of said bar whereby said bar may be slid to a position in which it lies transverse to said element to engage the rear surface of a wall surrounding said opening, and means on said element for engaging the front surface of said wall.

10. The combination claimed in claim 9, said end edge of said bar being beveled whereby to form an angle greater than a right angle with said adjacent side edge.

11. The combination claimed in claim 9, said end edge of said bar having a tip on the portion thereof not adjacent said side edge for engaging the end wall of said slit.

12. The combination claimed in claim 1, the foot and leg portions of said L shaped element being tapered towards one another.

13. The combination claimed in claim 1, the foot and leg portions of said L shaped element being tapered towards one another, the non-adjacent ends of said foot and leg portions being substantially wider than the distance between said pivot and said abutment means.

14. The combination claimed in claim 1, said bar means having an eyelet therethrough adjacent the rear end thereof when in the first position whereby a thread, or the like, may be secured through said eyelet and extended through said opening for pulling said bar to the final position.

PAUL E. BYRON. 

